U.S. patent number 7,072,676 [Application Number 09/856,989] was granted by the patent office on 2006-07-04 for method and wireless transceiver for requesting and processing information.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Robert Bosch GmbH. Invention is credited to Stefan Goss, Oliver Hartkopp, Bernd Hessing.
United States Patent |
7,072,676 |
Hessing , et al. |
July 4, 2006 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Method and wireless transceiver for requesting and processing
information
Abstract
A method and a wireless transceiver are used for requesting and
processing information. A first information query is transmitted by
the wireless transceiver and information is returned by a service
provider via a wireless network to the requesting wireless
transceiver. The information query is provided with a predefined
first validity time value and the returned information, in
particular in the form of short messages, is provided with a
predefined second validity time value by the service provider.
Inventors: |
Hessing; Bernd (Holle,
DE), Goss; Stefan (Hildesheim, DE),
Hartkopp; Oliver (Peine, DE) |
Assignee: |
Robert Bosch GmbH (Stuttgart,
DE)
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Family
ID: |
7889517 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/856,989 |
Filed: |
November 23, 1999 |
PCT
Filed: |
November 23, 1999 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/DE99/03659 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
September 07, 2001 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO00/33278 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
June 08, 2000 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 30, 1998 [DE] |
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198 55 230 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/466; 370/252;
455/550.1; 455/67.11; 455/517; 455/456.6; 455/456.5; 370/242 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W
4/02 (20130101); G01C 21/26 (20130101); G08G
1/096844 (20130101); G08G 1/096811 (20130101); G08G
1/096827 (20130101); H04W 4/024 (20180201); H04W
4/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04Q
7/20 (20060101); G06F 11/00 (20060101); H04B
17/00 (20060101); H04M 1/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/550.1,67.11,517,67.16,69,424-425,466,456.3,456.5,456.6,95,96,99,500.1
;370/242,249,252,253,333,350 ;340/995.13,995.18,995.19 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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WO 96/35198 |
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Nov 1996 |
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WO |
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WO 97/01940 |
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Jan 1997 |
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WO |
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WO 97/36434 |
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Oct 1997 |
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WO |
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WO 98/26395 |
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Jun 1998 |
|
WO |
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WO 98/38618 |
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Sep 1998 |
|
WO |
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Other References
GSM Standard, RE/SMG-040340PR4, Oct. 1996. cited by other .
European Preliminary Standard ENV-278-4-1-0012, Jun. 1996. cited by
other.
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Primary Examiner: Trost; William
Assistant Examiner: Zewdu; Meless
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kenyon & Kenyon
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for requesting and processing information, comprising:
transmitting by a wireless transceiver a first information query
over a wireless network, the first information query being
transmitted as a short message, the first information query being
provided with a first predefined validity time value; transmitting
information to the wireless transceiver in response to the first
information query, the information being received by the wireless
transceiver over the wireless network in a form of short messages,
the information being provided with a second predefined validity
time value by the service provider; registering in the wireless
transceiver a time of the first information query; and generating a
message when a first predefined time period after the transmitting
of the first information query is exceeded.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a mobile
wireless network.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information query is
generated based on a position of the wireless transceiver.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: suppressing use of
the transmitted information when the first predefined time period
after the transmitting of the first information query is
exceeded.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: automatically
transmitting a second information query after transmitting the
first information query and after a second predefined time period
is exceeded, the second predefined time period starting at a time
of the transmitting of the first information query, the first
predefined time period being restarted at a time of the
transmitting of the second information query, the second predefined
time period being greater than the first predefined time
period.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information includes traffic
information.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the information includes traffic
information of a specific area.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the information contains at least
one traffic situation report, a life of the at least one traffic
situation report exceeding a predefined minimum life.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one traffic
situation report is according to a TMC standard.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the predefined minimum life is
greater than a sum of the first predefined time period and the
second predefined time period.
11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: selecting at least
one navigation message from the at least one traffic situation
report in a distributor device, the selected at least one
navigation message being made available to a navigation unit.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting upon
user request a second information query after transmitting the
first information query; and restarting the first predefined time
period at a time of the transmitting of the second information
query.
13. A wireless transceiver operating over a wireless network,
comprising: a transmitter to transmit a first information query as
a short message over the wireless network, the first information
query being provided with a first predefined validity time value; a
receiver to receive information responsive to the first information
query, the information being received as a short message over the
wireless network; an arrangement to register a time of the first
information query; an arrangement to generate a message after a
first predefined time period after the first information query is
transmitted is exceeded; an arrangement to automatically transmit a
second information query after a second predefined time period has
been exceeded; an arrangement to start the second predefined time
period at a time when the first information query is transmitted;
and an arrangement to restart the first predefined time period at a
time when the second information query is transmitted; wherein the
second predefined time period is greater than the first predefined
time period.
14. The wireless transceiver of claim 13, wherein the information
includes at least one traffic situation report.
15. The wireless transceiver of claim 14, further comprising: a
memory to store the at least one traffic situation report.
16. The wireless transceiver of claim 14, further comprising: an
arrangement configured to select a navigation message from the
traffic situation report and for making the navigation message
available to a navigation unit.
17. The wireless transceiver of claim 13, further comprising: an
arrangement to transmit a second information query upon user
request; and an arrangement restart the first predefined time
period at a time when the second information query is
transmitted.
18. The wireless transceiver of claim 13, further comprising: an
arrangement configured to determine a position of the wireless
transceiver.
19. The wireless transceiver of claim 13, further comprising: an
arrangement configured to determine a position of the wireless
transceiver in a road network.
20. The wireless transceiver of claim 13, further comprising: an
arrangement configured to generate and transmit the first
information query based on a position of the wireless
transceiver.
21. A method for requesting and processing information, comprising:
transmitting by a wireless transceiver a first information query
over a wireless network, the first information query being
transmitted as a short message, the first information query being
provided with a first predefined validity time value; transmitting
information to the wireless transceiver in response to the first
information query, the information being received by the wireless
transceiver over the wireless network in a form of short messages,
the information being provided with a second predefined validity
time value by the service provider; registering in the wireless
transceiver a time of the first information query; and at least one
of generating a message and suppressing the use of the received
information when a first predetermined time period after the
transmission of the first information query is exceeded.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the wireless network includes a
mobile wireless network.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first information query is
generated based on a position of the wireless transceiver.
24. The method of claim 21, further comprising: suppressing use of
the transmitted information when the first predefined time period
after the transmitting of the first information query is
exceeded.
25. The method of claim 21, further comprising: automatically
transmitting a second information query after transmitting the
first information query and after a second predefined time period
is exceeded, the second predefined time period starting at a time
of the transmitting of the first information query, the first
predefined time period being restarted at a time of the
transmitting of the second information query, the second predefined
time period being greater than the first predefined time
period.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the information includes
traffic information.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the information includes
traffic information of a specific area.
28. The method of claim 25, wherein the information contains at
least one traffic situation report, a life of the at least one
traffic situation report exceeding a predefined minimum life.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one traffic
situation report is according to a TMC standard.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein the predefined minimum life is
greater than a sum of the first predefined time period and the
second predefined time period.
31. The method of claim 28, further comprising: selecting at least
one navigation message from the at least one traffic situation
report in a distributor device, the selected at least one
navigation message being made available to a navigation unit.
32. The method of claim 21, further comprising: transmitting upon
user request a second information query after transmitting the
first information query; and restarting the first predefined time
period at a time of the transmitting of the second information
query.
33. A wireless transceiver operating over a wireless network,
comprising: a transmitter to transmit a first information query as
a short message over the wireless network, the first information
query being provided with a first predefined validity time value; a
receiver to receive information responsive to the first information
query, the information being received as a short message over the
wireless networks an arrangement to register a time of the first
information query; an arrangement to at least one of generate a
message and suppress the use of the received information when a
first predetermined time period after the transmission of the first
information query is exceeded; an arrangement to automatically
transmit a second information query after a second predefined time
period has been exceeded; an arrangement to start the second
predefined time period at a time when the first information query
is transmitted; and an arrangement to restart the first predefined
time period at a time when the second information query is
transmitted; wherein the second predefined time period is greater
than the first predefined time period.
34. The wireless transceiver of claim 33, wherein the information
includes at least one traffic situation report.
35. The wireless transceiver of claim 34, further comprising: a
memory to store the at least one traffic situation report.
36. The wireless transceiver of claim 34, further comprising: an
arrangement to select a navigation message from the traffic
situation report and to make the navigation message available to a
navigation unit.
37. The wireless transceiver of claim 33, further comprising: an
arrangement to transmit a second information query upon user
request; and an arrangement to restart the first predefined time
period at a time when the second information query is
transmitted.
38. The wireless transceiver of claim 33, further comprising: an
arrangement to determine a position of the wireless
transceiver.
39. The wireless transceiver of claim 33, further comprising: an
arrangement to determine a position of the wireless transceiver in
a road network.
40. The wireless transceiver of claim 33, further comprising: an
arrangement to generate and transmit the first information query
based on a position of the wireless receiver.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention related to a method and wireless transceiver
for requesting and processing information.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PCT Published Patent Application WO 98/26395 describes a method for
traffic information in which data is transmitted upon request
and/or automatically between a central unit and a mobile subscriber
unit, and in which the data contains traffic information which is
output upon request and/or automatically by the mobile subscriber
unit to the subscriber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The method according to the present invention provides that
information queries transmitted by a wireless transceiver to a
service provider and the information returned by the service
provider are provided with predefined validity time values. Thus,
the maximum time period for obtaining information can be calculated
even when no data selection connection or the like is possible or
convenient.
In embodiments of the present invention, the information queries
are transmitted as short messages over a wireless network, for
example, a mobile wireless network, and the information queries are
provided with a first validity time value. When the validity time
value is exceeded but the information query has not yet been
transmitted to the service provider, the information query is
automatically deleted in the wireless network and thus it cannot
initiate any information to be returned by the service provider.
This contributes to simplified error processing of the method
according to the present invention and in a simplified design of
the wireless transceiver according to the present invention.
Furthermore, the returned information is also received in the form
of short messages, SMS messages in accordance with the GSM standard
in particular, the returned information being provided with a
second validity time value by the service provider which also
contributes to simplified error processing, in particular in the
case of communication disturbances.
In further embodiments of the present invention, the wireless
transceiver includes means for determining its position, in
particular in a road network. Thus, information queries can be
requested depending on the position of the wireless
transceiver.
In further embodiments of the present invention, the information
queries are generated on the basis of the position of the wireless
transceiver. Thus, obtaining information is simplified, for
example, reducing the amount of information to be transmitted.
In further embodiments of the present invention, a message is
generated in the wireless transceiver and/or the use of the
information returned by the central station to the wireless
transceiver is suppressed if a first predefined time period has
been exceeded after the first information query has been
transmitted. This makes it possible to respond to the fact that
information was received with a delay, for example, by calling a
user's attention to this fact and/or by ignoring the returned
information, for example, if this information has become obsolete
and therefore no longer relevant due to a long time delay in the
transmission of information for processing, for example, for the
navigation of a motor vehicle.
In further embodiments of the present invention, after a first
information query, a second subsequent information query is
automatically transmitted after a second predefined time period has
been exceeded, the second predefined time period being started at
the time of the first information query, the first predefined time
period which causes the returned information to be suppressed after
it has been exceeded being restarted at the time of the second
information query, and the second predefined time period being
greater than the first predefined time period. This makes it
possible to send out information queries repeatedly and to keep the
information processing, for example, for calculating the most
favorable route of a vehicle in the presence of traffic problems on
certain road segments, permanently up-to-date through the returned
information. Furthermore, by using automatic information queries,
it is also possible to keep the processed information constantly
up-to-date without user intervention, resulting in a higher degree
of operating reliability of the method according to the present
invention and the wireless transceiver according to the present
invention for requesting and processing information, in particular
when the user is performing some activity, for example, driving a
vehicle.
In further embodiments of the present invention, a second
information query following the first information query in time is
transmitted upon user request, the first predefined time period
being restarted at the time the second information query is issued.
Thus, an information query can be sent upon user request, which may
be desirable in the event of unexpected changes in the situation,
for example, a change in destination. In addition, the number of
information queries in the case of an information query upon user
request can be kept lower and information queries can be
transmitted in a controlled manner, for example, before a decision
to be made, in particular regarding road conditions, resulting in
reduced telecommunications traffic and reduced costs when the
information queries are associated with costs.
In further embodiments of the present invention, the returned
information contains traffic situation reports, in particular
according to the TMC standard, and the traffic situation reports
may relate to one or more specific areas. Thus, only those traffic
situation reports are taken into consideration in the wireless
transceiver which, for example, are or may become relevant for the
navigation to be performed, since they concern areas which
correspond to areas queried in the information query or are
adjacent thereto, for example.
In further embodiments of the present invention, the life of the
traffic situation reports exceeds a predefined minimum life. The
traffic situation reports contained in the returned information are
therefore received in all cases.
In further embodiments of the present invention, the predefined
minimum life of the traffic situation reports is greater than the
sum of the predefined first time period and the predefined second
time period. Traffic situation reports contained in returned
information can thus not be ignored because of their excessively
short life alone during information processing. Thus, no short-term
loss of traffic situation reports occurs in the wireless
transceiver in the case of a time spread in obtaining the
messages.
In further embodiments of the present invention, a number of
appropriate and relevant traffic situation reports is selected from
the amount of traffic situation reports received, and is made
available to a processing unit, in particular a navigation unit.
This can reduce the processing costs by concentrating on the
relevant traffic situation reports, making processing speedier,
allowing the hardware and the software to be kept simpler, thus
reducing costs.
In further embodiments of the present invention, a wireless
transceiver includes a memory in which received traffic situation
reports can be stored. Thus, the traffic situation reports can be
read individually from returned information. The traffic situation
reports can be used without all the returned information being
fully available in the case of a plurality of returned information
items received by the wireless transceiver. The method according to
the present invention and the wireless transceiver according to the
present invention are compatible with receiving traffic situation
reports via a unidirectional communication channel, for example,
via radio; broadcast SMS, or the like. Furthermore, traffic
situation reports can thus be used in a practical manner when the
respective returned information is not fully available
In further embodiments of the present invention, the wireless
transceiver includes means for selecting navigation messages from
the traffic situation reports and for making them available to a
navigation unit. This reduces the resources needed in the
navigation unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a wireless transceiver embodiment
according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a transmit/receive diagram according to an embodiment
of the method according to the present invention and the mode of
operation of the wireless transceiver according to the present
invention between the wireless transceiver, a wireless network, and
a service provider; and
FIG. 3 shows a transmit/receive diagram according to a an
embodiment of the method according to the present invention and the
mode of operation of the wireless transceiver according to the
present invention between the wireless transceiver, a wireless
network, and a service provider.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a wireless transceiver 100.
Wireless transceiver 100 includes a transceiver unit 110, which is
connected to an analyzer circuit 120. Analyzer circuit 120 is
connected to a distributor device 140. Furthermore, a memory 142, a
navigation unit 160, playback devices 184, and input devices 182
are connected to distributor device 140. Navigation unit 160 is
also connected to a navigation data memory 162. Transceiver unit
110 can be designed, in particular, so that it includes a
receptacle for a portable telecommunications terminal, for example,
a cell phone, so that transceiver unit 110 cannot be operated until
the portable telecommunications terminal is connected to
transceiver unit 110, for example, plugged in or the like. The
different units and devices of wireless transceiver 100 can be
distributed among different housings or integrated in a single
housing. Individual units and devices of wireless transceiver 100
can be combined with an additional device in a housing. Thus, for
example, input devices 182 and playback devices 184 can be
integrated into a wireless receiver. In this case, the wireless
receiver is connected to wireless transceiver 100 via a wire-bound
or wireless connection, for example, a CAN bus or the like. The
wireless receiver is provided with a decoder for traffic situation
reports, in particular, according to the RDS-TMC system, so that
the traffic situation reports can be received by the wireless
transceiver via the link between the wireless transceiver and the
radio receiver.
FIG. 2 shows the communication process over time according to an
embodiment of the method according to the present invention and the
mode of operation of wireless transceiver 100 according to the
present invention between the wireless transceiver 100, a wireless
network 50, and a service provider 10 with the aid of a
transmit/receive diagram. A first information query 1000 is
transmitted by wireless transceiver 100 to wireless network 50 to
be forwarded to service provider 10. First information query 1000
is provided by wireless transceiver 100 with a first validity time
value 1402. First validity time value 1402 causes first information
query 1000 no longer to be able to be transmitted to service
provider 10 after the lapse of first validity time value 1402. If
first information query 1000 was not transmitted to service
provider 10 over wireless network so during the time period of
first validity time value 1402, first information query 1000 is
lost.
When first information query 1000 has been successfully transmitted
to service provider 10, service provider 10 processes the contents
of first information query 1000 and, after a certain processing
time, returns one or more items of information 1100 to wireless
transceiver 100 over wireless network 50. Service provider 10
provides returned information 1100 with a second validity time
value 1403, which specifies the time period during which returned
information 1100 is kept available in network 50 for transmission
to wireless transceiver 100. If returned information 1100 is held
available in wireless network 50 during a time period specified by
second validity time value 1403 without returned information 1100
being transmitted to wireless transceiver 100, returned information
1100 is lost. If returned information 1100 is transmitted to
wireless transceiver 100 within a time period specified by second
validity time value 1403, wireless transceiver 100 can process
returned information 1100. This takes place if first predefined
time period 1401 has not been exceeded since the time when first
information query 1000 was registered. If returned information 1100
was not received until after the lapse of first predefined time
period 1401 after first information query 1000 was issued by
wireless transceiver 100, a message is generated and/or processing
of information 1100 which was returned too late is suppressed. The
message can be forwarded in wireless transceiver 100 via
distributor device 140 to playback devices 184 and output to a user
there. The present invention further allows forwarding the message
to navigation unit 160 or the like.
According to a method according to the present invention and
wireless transceiver 100 according to the present invention, a
second information query 1001 following first information query
1000 in time is transmitted by wireless transceiver 100 to service
provider 10 over wireless network 50. Second information query 1001
can be issued due to a plurality of events, for example,
automatically or also upon user request.
Second information query 1001 is transmitted automatically when a
second predefined time period 1404 is exceeded. Second predefined
time period 1404 is started at the time of first information query
1000. First predefined time period 1401 is restarted at the time of
second information query 1001. Furthermore second predefined time
period 1404 is greater than first predefined time period 1401. When
information queries 1000, 1001 are automatically repeated, any
desired number of additional information queries, which may have
different contents, can be transmitted. Between two successive
information queries 1000, 1001, the earlier information query is
referred to as first information query 1000 and the subsequent
information query is referred to as second information query 1001.
First and second predefined time periods 1401, 1404-are both
started at the time of first information query 1000. Since first
predefined time period 1401 is smaller than second predefined time
period 1404, first predefined time period 1401 ends while second
predefined time period 1404 continues. After the lapse of second
predefined time period 1404, second information query 1001 is
issued and both the first and second predefined time periods 1401,
1404 are restarted.
FIG. 3 shows the communication process over time according to
another embodiment of the method according to the present
invention, and the mode of operation of wireless transceiver 100
according to the present invention between a wireless transceiver
100, a wireless network 50, and a service provider 10 with the aid
of a transmit/receive diagram. The same reference symbols from FIG.
2 refer to similar segments of the method. Information queries
1000, 1001 can also be initiated by a user request 1821. Between
two successive information queries 1000, 1001, the earlier
information query is again referred to as first information query
1000 and the subsequent information query is referred to as second
information query 1001. Since user request 1821, rather than second
predefined time period 1404 being exceeded, is used as a criterion
for initiating second information query 1001, the second predefined
time period does not have to be started at the time of first
information query 1000 in the present embodiment. At the time of
first information query 1000, only first predefined time period is
1401 is started and it is restarted when second information query
1001 is issued.
Wireless transceiver 100 according to the present invention is
suitable for performing the method according to the present
invention. Transceiver unit 110 transmits first information query
1000 over wireless network 50 to service provider. 10. In a first
timer assigned to analyzer circuit 120, a first clock is started
when first information query 1000 is issued by transceiver unit
110. Returned information 1100 is analyzed by the analyzer circuit.
The contents of returned information 1100 can be stored in memory
142 using distributor device 140. Navigation unit 160 calls up data
stored in memory 142 via distributor device 140 to update the data
stored in navigation data memory 162. If transceiver unit 110
receives returned information 1100 and, after comparison with the
clock of the first timer, it is determined that first predefined
time period 1401 has been exceeded, the message is generated and/or
forwarded by distributor device 140 for use by other units or
devices of wireless transceiver 100.
Results of the information processing in navigation unit 160 can be
forwarded to playback devices 184 via distributor device 140 and
made available there to a user of any type, visually or
acoustically in particular.
The user inputs information via input devices 182, for example, a
keyboard, for example, to have the wireless transceiver input
navigation destinations and the like. Furthermore, the information
about user request 1821 can be forwarded to a second information
query 1001 via distributor device 140 to transceiver unit 110 using
inputs devices 182. Transceiver unit 110 then transmits second
information query 1001.
In the case where wireless transceiver 100 is set to automatically
repeat information queries 1000, 1001, it can be determined by
comparing a clock of a second timer assigned to analyzer circuit
120 that second predefined time period 1404 has been exceeded, the
clock of the second timer having been restarted at the time of the
transmission of first information query 1000. In this case, second
information query 1001 is transmitted by transceiver unit 110.
Any number of returned information items 1100 can be received by
the wireless transceiver in response to an information query 1000,
1001. This simplifies transmission and reception since it is not
necessary to check for completeness. Processing of additional
returned information 1100 takes place in the manner similar to the
processing of returned information 1100 after the transmission of
first information query 1000. Information transmitted by service
provider 10 which does not originate from an information query
1000, 1001 of wireless transceiver 100 can also be processed by the
wireless transceiver. In particular, important information such as
traffic situation reports regarding a vehicle being driven in the
wrong direction on a highway may be transmitted in such a mode of
operation.
The method to according to the present invention and wireless
transceiver 100 according to the present invention can be used for
requesting and processing any type of information. In particular,.
the method according to the present invention and wireless
transceiver 100 according to the present invention are well suited
for navigation information which facilitates navigation for a
mobile user. In particular, the method according to the present
invention and wireless transceiver 100 according to the present
invention are well suited for use in a vehicle on land, water, or
in the air. A further embodiment of the method according to the
present invention and of wireless transceiver 100 according to the
present invention for use in a land vehicle mainly on roads is
possible. For navigation in a road network it is recommended that
the location information and the possible connection options
provided by the road network be stored in the road vehicle, which
is made possible according to the present invention by storing
first location information, in particular static information about
the road network, in navigation data memory 162.
Navigation unit 160 according to the present invention includes
means for determining the position of the vehicle at any time, for
example, in regular time intervals. This is accomplished according
to the present invention through analyses of a GPS system (Global
Positioning System). Furthermore, additional data sources can be
used for position determination, in particular velocity data, angle
or orientation data, or the like. Velocity data can be provided by
an onboard velocity sensor. Angle or orientation data can be
provided, for example, by an angular acceleration sensor or the
like. Navigation is made possible, in particular for users familiar
with the area, through the possibility of location determination
and the presence of stored first location information of the road
network.
By supplementing the first location information of the road network
with up-to-date information, for example, concerning the traffic
conditions on certain stretches of road, improved navigation
becomes possible, which allows time-optimized navigation in
particular. For this purpose, information from service provider 10
is transmitted over wireless network 50 to wireless transceiver 100
located in the vehicle. The wireless network is designed, for
example, as a bidirectional wireless network, in particular of the
type of a mobile telephone network according to the GSM standard.
Service provider 10 receives information queries 1000, 1001 of
wireless transceiver 100 and transmits information 1100, in
particular for payment.
In the exemplary embodiments, communication takes place over
wireless network 50 between wireless transceiver 100 and service
provider 10, in particular via short messages, for example SMS
short messages according to the GSM standard or the like. Service
provider 10 selects returned information 1100 from the information
available, for example, concerning disturbances in the traffic flow
in the road network or the like, as a function of information
queries 1000, 1001. In the method according to the present
invention, information queries 1000, 1001 contain second location
information, for example, regarding the position of the vehicle,
the areas on the intended route, or the like. Second location
information may also be generated by wireless transceiver 100 on
the basis of first location information. For example, when two
different routes are considered in the navigation unit for
optimizing navigation, the second location information of the
respective information query 1000, 1001 can be configured so that
returned information 1100 contains all traffic situation reports
1200 concerning the relevant road segments. Thus, the second
information can also be generated on the basis of the position of
wireless transceiver 100 and, at the same time, on the basis of the
first information.
Using the second location information, service provider can put
together the information requested and make it available to
wireless transceiver 100 as returned information 1100. In
particular, information queries 1000, 1001 concern areas in the
extended vicinity of the stretches of the intended route.
Returned information 1100 may include one or more traffic situation
reports 1200. Traffic situation reports 1200 may be transmitted in
an encoded or unencoded form.
According to the present invention, traffic situation reports 1200
are encoded according to the TMC (Traffic Message Channel) code,
which is defined in European preliminary standard ENV-278-4-1-0012,
June 1996.
In the present embodiment, the service provider evaluates
information queries 1000, 1001 using the second location
information and compares the latter with the available traffic
situation reports, in particular TMC messages or the like. If a TMC
message corresponds to the second location information of
information query 1000, 1001, it is forwarded in the form of an SMS
short message to wireless transceiver 100. A plurality of Tmc
messages can be transmitted in an SMS short message. TMC messages
concern third location information (Location according to the TMC
code) which is determined by fourth location information
(PrimaryLocation, see TMC standard) and the extent of the traffic
disturbance (Extent, see Tmc standard). A TMC message corresponds
to the second location information when the third location
information indicates point locations (Point Location, see TMC
standard) and at least one of the third location information items
affected by the TMC message is located in the area defined by the
second location information of the information query. All the third
location information items which are defined by the fourth location
information and the extent of the traffic disturbance are affected
by a message; the extent of disturbance may assume values between 0
and 31; thus, point locations may also be affected by a message
32.
The service provider may optimize its service quality by placing
particularly important traffic situation reports 1200 at the
beginning of returned information 1100. Less important traffic
situation reports 1200 can be placed at the end of returned
information 1100 or transmitted in additional returned information
1100 to wireless transceiver 100. Furthermore, the service
provider-may reduce the complexity of its queries by keeping a
limited amount of predefined queries available and calling them up
on the basis of the queried second location information. Such an
option exists as long as all the traffic situation reports 1200,
rather than a predefined first number of traffic situation reports
1200, affected by the queried second location information are
selected. In a further embodiment, the wireless transceiver
according to the present invention may store only a predefined
first number of, for example, one hundred, traffic situation
reports. Thus an overflow occurs in the memory for traffic
situation reports 1200 in wireless transceiver 100 if the service
provider returns a larger number of traffic situation reports than
the predefined first number. Wireless transceiver 100 does not
recognize that traffic situation reports 1200 are also transmitted
from areas outside the regions contiguous to second location
information. All traffic situation reports 1200 contained in
returned information 1100 are treated in the same way in wireless
transceiver 100.
The service provider has the option of transmitting traffic
situation reports 1200 once queried and transmitted, to wireless
transceiver 100 without a new information query 1000, 1001. Thus,
changes in the contents of traffic situation reports 1200 can also
be communicated without a new information query 1000, 1001. It is,
however, not ensured that traffic situation report is 1200 is also
received and evaluated by wireless transceiver 100.. The service
provider does not transmit any traffic situation reports 1200 whose
life is less than a predefined minimum life 1220. Life 1240 of a
traffic situation report 1200 can be represented, for example, by
the ALERT-C-Persistence which is defined in the TMC code. In the
method according to the present invention, minimum life 1220 is set
at 30 minutes.
In order to counteract the danger of obsolete traffic situation
reports stored in wireless transceiver 100, the service provider
may terminate traffic situation reports 1200 whose life 1240 has
been exceeded not by automatic deletion after the lapse of life
1240, but through an explicit delete message. Delete messages are
also traffic situation reports 1200 according to the TMC standard
and also have a life 1240 at least equal to minimum life 1220.
Delete messages themselves can be removed after the lapse of life
1240 without any comments.
The service provider encodes returned information 1100 so that they
have validity in wireless network 50 only for a period of time
corresponding to a first validity time value 1402. According to the
present invention, returned information 1100 is transmitted as an
SMS short message according to the GSM standard, for example, to
wireless transceiver 100. According to the GSM standard, an SMS
short message can be provided with a validity time value (TP
Validity-Period, see GSM standard document RE/SMG-040340PR4,
October 1996). The validity time value of an SMS message may vary
for a validity time value of up to 12 hours in multiples of five
minutes in a certain encoding of the validity time value. For
example, with the method according to the present invention and
with wireless transceiver 100 according to the present invention,
first validity time value 1402 is set at five minutes.
A buffer memory assigned to transceiver unit 110 can be provided in
order to store returned information 1100 until analyzer circuit 120
is capable of evaluating returned information 1100 and traffic
situation reports 1200 contained therein. A first processing of
returned information 1100 takes place in analyzer circuit 120,
where traffic situation reports 1200 can be decoded. The traffic
situation reports 1200 can either be stored in memory 142 or, at
least in part, output to the user with the aid of playback device
184 via distributor device 140.
Distributor device 140 recognizes in wireless transceiver 100
according to the present invention which traffic situation reports
1200 are relevant for navigation using signals of navigation unit
.160 and sends these messages to navigation data memory 162 via
navigation unit 160 as navigation messages 1300. On the basis of
the information present in navigation data memory 162, both the
first location information, in particular information concerning
the road network, as well as the data from navigation messages
1300, the optimum route, which can be optimized in particular in
terms of time, can be calculated in navigation unit 160.
In the present embodiment, first predefined time period 1401 is set
at 13 minutes, for example. Second predefined time period 1404
which, when exceeded, causes second information query 1001 to be
transmitted by wireless transceiver 100 is set in the present
embodiment at 15 minutes, for example. Thus, the condition that
first predefined time period 1401 is less than second predefined
time period 1402 is met. First and second validity time values
1402, 1403 are set at five minutes, for example.
Minimum life 1220 is set in the present embodiment at 30 minutes.
Thus, the condition that the minimum life is greater than the sum
of first predefined time period 1401 and second predefined time
period 1404 is met.
Returned information 1100 may reach wireless transceiver 100 either
after first predefined time period 1401 after first information
query 1000 has been transmitted or after second predefined time
period 1404, so that returned information 1100 which was generated
by service provider 10 on the basis of first information query 1000
is only received after second information query 1001 has been
transmitted by wireless transceiver 100. As a result, first
predefined time period 1401 was restarted by second information
query 1001 and returned information 1100 belonging to first
information query 1000 is assumed to be valid. This error cannot be
recognized. It has a beneficial effect if traffic situation reports
1200 contained in returned information 1100 are not obsolete. Since
returned information 1100 is stored in the wireless network
according to second validity time value 1403 at the most, the
likelihood that these traffic situation reports are current is
high. In normal operation, the likelihood that traffic situation
reports are available earlier in such a case is also high. The
occurrence of errors may have an effect on the operation of
wireless transceiver 100 according to the present invention.
In a further embodiment of the method according to the present
invention and wireless transceiver 100 according to the present
invention, information 1100 received by transceiver unit 110 of
wireless transceiver 100 is not associated with information queries
1000, 1001, and traffic situation reports 1200 that are transmitted
without information query 1000, 1001, for example via a cell
broadcast short message service (CBS) of service provider 10, can
also be processed. In this case information 1100 returned by
service provider 10 is received within first predefined time period
1401 after first information query 1000 has been transmitted.
* * * * *